Sprinkler



SPRINKLER Filed Nov. 11, 1931 INVENTOR, NATHAN 0. JACOBSON.

A TTORNE Y Patented June 12 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT 9 Claims.

My invention relates to sprinkers for lawns and the like, and particularly to sprinklers for watering non-circular areas.

An object of my invention is to provide a 5 sprinkler which may be adjusted accurately to cover square or rectangular areas of various sizes and proportions.

Pursuant to the above object, another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler which will define sharply the corners of the areas covered, regardless of the size or side-ratio and the pressure of the water, supply.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler wherein the size and shape of the area covered may be quickly and easily changed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler having adjustable spray-arms, wherein the adjustable joint does not leak, is not subject to destructive wear, and which is readily as- Q sembled.

5 my invention herein described, as various forms may be adopted within the scopev of the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of sprinkler embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the sprinkler shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 1, of a modified form of the device.

Broadly considered, the sprinkler of my invention comprises a rotatably mounted turret which is driven by the reaction of a jet delivered by a nozzle mounted thereon. Means are provided for retarding the rotation of the turret at predetermined intervals. This alters the distribution of velocity between the nozzle and the jet, the stream traveling to a greater distance when the nozzle is stationary or nearly so than it does when the nozzle is mov ng rapidly due to the reaction of the stream. By properly regulating the speed of the turret during its rotation, the area covered may be given any desired shape. The means for controlling the rotational speed is preferably an adjustable cam mounted adjacent the sprinkler turret, and this cam may be made to oscillate the nozzle, thereby changing the angle of the stream and the amount of the reaction at the same time that a resistive or braking force is applied, thus getting a composite action which enables the effectiveness of the device to be increased. The elevation of the driving jet is preferably adjustable, and since this varies not only the distance to which the jet is projected, but also its reaction on the turret, the variation in the speed of rotation increases with the size of the area covered, so that the corners of the area are sharply defined regardless of the size of the area.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. A pipe fitting 1 is internally threaded so that it may be screwed to a suitable vertical supply pipe. Rotatably mounted on the fitting is a sprinkler turret, which comprises a goose-neck 2 having a straight lower end 3 which fits into a circular recess 5 in the upper portion of the fitting. A bushing 6 threads into the straight portion of the gooseneck, forming the bearing upon which the turret revolves. The upper end of the goose-neck curves into a horizontal position and is threaded to receive another bushing 7 which forms a hearing upon which the sprinkler head oscillates around a horizontal axis.

The head comprises a cylindrical drum 9 having a projecting collar 10 within which the bushing '7 is journaled. A spray-arm or pipe 11 is threaded or otherwise connected to one side oi the drum, this arm carrying a nozzle 12 which is shaped to produce a short, non-radial spray, as is described in my copending application Serial No. 531,283. This spray is adapted to reach only the area immediately surrounding the sprinkler. The spray-pipe is bent, so that the axis of the nozzle is offset slightly from the center of rotation of the head, as is indicated by the dash line 14, the short dash line 15 indieating the amount of offset. As a result of this construction, a jet from the nozzle reacts to create a turning moment of the head around its horizontal axis.

The end of the rum 9 which is opposite its connection with the goose-neck is open, and a groove 16 is formed around its inner circumference. A disk 17 fits into the open end of the drum, this disk carrying an elbow 19 connecting it to a second spray-pipe 20 which terminates in a nozzle 21. Behind the disk 17 is a pliable washer 22, preferably of leather, and between this washer and the opposite end of the drum is a compression spring 24. The head is assembled by inserting the disk into the open end of the drum, thereby compressing the spring, and then placing a split ring in the groove 16. The spring presses the disk outwardly against the ring, at the same time compressing the washer 22 and forming a water-tight joint. The disk with its attached spray-pipe and nozzle may therefore be rotated around the horizontal axis of the drum and independently of the head as a whole.

As will be seen from Figure 2 the axes of the two spray-pipes are offset from the vertical axis of the turret, so that each of the jets reacts to rotate the turret. The amount of offset of the pipe 20 is preferably greater than that of the pipe 14:. The dimensions are preferably so chosen that the reaction of the jet from the nozzle 12 is barely suflicient to cause rotation.

The reaction of the jet from the nozzle 21 depends both upon the amount of offset of the spray-pipe and upon the angle A, being proportional to the cosine of this angle. Hence if the pipe 20 were so turned as to stand vertically, the cosine of this angle would be zero and there would be no rotary moment supplied by a jet from the nozzle 21. When the pipe 20 is turned into a horizontal position, the cosine of this angle is unity and a maximum turning moment is supplied.

Projecting from the side of the drum 9 is a lug 26 which carries a wire 27 whose end is formed into a hook 29. This wire acts as a cam follower which rides upon an adjustable cam which comprises a pair of cross-arms 30, 31. These arms each have a central annular portion 32 which fits over a threaded boss 33 on the upper side of the fitting 1. The arms are formed, in the present instance, of sheet-metal, which is bent or contoured so that its edges act as a cam which oscillates the head of the turret as the latter revolves. The leading edge of each of the cam arms is preferably formed simply from the edge of the cut metal, but the trailing or following edge is bent over to form a lip 35, which will engage the hook 29.

When the sprinkler is in use the reaction of the nozzle 12 tends to hold the follower against the cam. It will be noted that no precautions have been taken to reduce friction between the cam and the follower. When the follower, in the rotation of the turret, contacts with the leading edge of the cam, the friction between the two acts as a brake upon the rotation and retards the rotation of the sprinkler. This retardation becomes greater and greater until, when the follower reaches the apex of the cam, the turret is nearly brought to rest. At this point the velocity of the jet with respect to the ground is practically equal to the velocity of the jet with respect to the turret, and the jet reaches the greatest distance. This action is aided by the fact that at this point the elevation of the nozzle 21 is at a maximum. This point defines a corner of the area to be sprinkled.

As the follower reaches the apex of the cam, the hook 29 engages the lip 35, which prevents the momentum of the head from carrying the 1 follower away from the cam and causes a final,

cam. When the follower strikes the arm 31 the action is repeated, the speed of rotation again decreasing to cause a greater range of the jet, thus forming the next corner of the area to be sprayed.

The two arms of the cam being pivotally mounted for movement around the fitting 1, the proportions of the area covered may be varied at will. In use, the sprinkler is placed at the center of the area to be sprinkled, the arms of the cam are adjusted by sighting along the apices to the corners of the plot to be watered, and then are locked in position by means of the nut 36.

A considerable amount of the efiicacy of the device in making sharply defined corners depends upon its operating at the proper speed. This would normally be changed to some extent by the water pressure, but due to the reaction moment of the jet from the nozzle 12 about the horizontal axis the friction of the cam follower against the cam and its resultant braking action are directly dependent upon water pressure, and therefore the average speed of rotation is held nearly constant regardless of pressure variations.

Furthermore, the corners remain sharply defined regardless of the size of the area covered. The latter is adjusted by means of the angle at which the spray-pipe 20 is set with respect to the remainder of the head. When this pipe is raised to an angle of to give maximum area covered, the cosine of the angle A is decreased, reducing the driving force and hence the velocity of the turret. At the same time the variation in velocity of rotation of the turret is increased. The result is a clearly marked rectangle sprayed regardless of its size.

In the modified form of the device shown in Figure 4, the drum 9 is rigidly secured to its horizontal axis instead of oscillating upon it as in the form just described. The cam arms 40 and 41 are slightly different in form, the follower being adapted to engage their faces instead of their edges. The follower is mounted on a boss 42 carried by the spray-pipe l1, and comprises a plunger 4 1 pressed downward by a spring 45. The friction of the follower upon the cam, which is adjustable in the same manner as that of the first form, varies intermittently through the rotation of the sprinkler head, and gives a rectangular watered area even though the head does not oscillate. The first form is preferred since it gives compensation for varying water pressure which the second, simpler, form does not. The modified form does, however, compensate for various sized areas sprinkled, to give sharply cut corners in every case.

It will be obvious that the device may be made in almost any proportions, as long as the shape of the cam and the offset of the nozzle, which supplies the driving reaction, are varied together. The fundamental principle of the device is the variation of the radius sprayed with the distribution of velocity between the nozzle and the jet. Were the nozzle retreating with a velocity equal to that of the stream the water would fall directly to the ground. Where the nozzle is stationary the stream is projected to a maximum distance. By regulating the speed of the nozzle between these two extremes any desired variation in radius may be obtained.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler for non-circular areas comprising a support fitting adapted to be secured to a vertical supply pipe, a turret mounted for horizontal rotation on said fitting, a nozzle on said turret offset from the center thereof to produce a turning reaction on the turret, a cam comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms mounted on said support, locking means for maintaining said arms in a desired position, and a brake member mounted on said turret and engaging said cam for retarding said turret intermittently during the rotation thereof.

2. In combination with a rotary sprinkler turret, an adjustable cam for controlling the motion of said turret comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms, each having a contoured surface formed at the end thereof, means for locking said arms in a desired relative position, and a follower engaging said cam and operative therewith to control the rotation of said turret.

3. In combination with a rotary sprinkler turret, an adjustable cam for controlling the motion of said turret comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted at their centers and each having a contoured surface formed at each end thereof, means for locking said arms in a desired relative position and a follower engaging said cam and operative therewith to control the rotation of said turret.

4. A sprinkler comprising a turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of nozzles mounted 011 said turret for oscillation about a horizontal axis, one of said nozzles being offset from said horizontal axis to produce a reaction tending to rotate the nozzles about said horizontal axis, and one of said nozzles being oifset from said vertical axis to produce rotation thereabout, a cam mounted adjacent said turret, and a follower mounted on said nozzles so as to be forced into engagement with the cam by the reaction about the horizontal axis, whereby said follower acts with said cam simultaneously to oscillate the nozzles and exert an intermittent braking action on the rotation of said head.

5. A sprinkler for non-circular areas comprising a turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a head mounted on said turret to oscillate about a horizontal axis, a spray-pipe terminating in a nozzle mounted on said head, said spray-pipe being adjustable about said horizontal axis independently of the rotation of said head and said nozzle discharging at an angle thereto, whereby a jet from said nozzle produces a reaction about the vertical axis which varies with the adjustment about the horizontal axis, a cam mounted adjacent the turret, and a follower mounted on said head and engaging said cam for simultaneously tilting said head and retarding the rotation of said turret.

6. A sprinkler for non-circular areas comprising a turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a head mounted on said turret, a spray-pipe terminating in a nozzle mounted on said head, said spray-pipe being adjustable about a horizontal axis independently of the rotation of said turret and said nozzle discharging at an angle thereto whereby a jet from said nozzle produces a reaction about said vertical axis which varies with the adjustment about the horizontal axis, a cam mounted adjacent the turret, and a follower mounted on the turret and engaging the cam to produce an intermittent braking action for retarding the rotation ;.of the turret.

7. In combination with a reaction jet driven sprinkler comprising a fixed support member and a rotatably movable turret member carrying a .jet adapted to rotate said member, a cam fixed to one of said members for controlling the movement of said turret and having a plain outwardly extending leading edge and an inwardly extending trailing edge formed with a lip thereon, a follower mounted on the other of said members to engage said edges of said cam, and a hook formed on the end of said follower and shaped to engage said lip as the follower progresses from the leading to the trailing edge of said cam, whereby the movement of said turret is sharply checked by said engagement and preventing the momentum of said turret from breaking the contact of said follower with said cam.

8. In combination with a rotary sprinkler turret mounted on a fixed support member, an adjustable cam for controlling the motion of said turret comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms mounted on said support member, each having a contoured surface formed at the end thereof, said surface including a lip formed on the trailing edge, means for locking said arms in a desired relative position, and a follower mounted on said turret and positioned to engage the edges of said cam when said turret is located and provided with a hook shaped to receive said lip, whereby the follower is unimpeded in making its first contact with the cam arm but is restrained from being thrown out of engagement by its momentum where the cam contour changes by the engagement of said hook and lip.

9. A sprinkler comprising a turret mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a pair of nozzles mounted on said turret for oscillation about a horizontal one of said nozzles being offset from said horizontal axis to produce a reaction tending to rotate the nozzles about said horizontal axis, and one of said nozzles being offset from said vertical axis to produce rotation thereabout, a cam mounted adjacent said turret, and a follower mounted on said nozzles, said cam being formed alternately to raise and lower said follower and being provided with a lip on the lowering portion thereof, and said follower having a hook formed thereon to engage said lip to check the motion of said turret at the point of changing contour of said cam.

NATHAN D. JACOBSON. 

